EMBA in Food and Agribusiness

Delivering Quantitative Methods Via Distance

By:Allan W. Gray

Distance Delivery Makes intensive

use of Internet-baseddelivery system

About 70% ofprogram content

delivered ‘on-line’

Residencies

Play a critical role inlearning experience

Some dimensions of MBA educationcannot be duplicated via

distance education

Three residencies at Purdue, one held at international location:

Target Audience Mid-career managers who

want a challenging, top-tier MBA degree program which respects their chaotic schedules and is focused on food system issues

Students and Graduates

32 graduates

Currently, 26 students in one class, representing 14 states and 2 countries

Average age: 35, 12 years of experience

23% have advanced degrees, 4 with Ph.D./J.D.

Quantitative Course Background

Course is taught in conjunction with 2 other EMBA courses.

Students are expected to spend 5-7 hours per week on this course.

Time management for students and instructor is a critical to success.

Wide array of student backgrounds Immediate Applicability

Delivery Method Lecture

Textbook is an integral part of delivery Weekly downloadable “video” of lecture Poster board on the wall Immediate feedback quizzes

Assignments Case based Chunking of material How-to file for assistance with assignments Two page memo is the required output

Communications Students choice of method Office hours each week Audio feedback on assignments

EMBA in Food and AgribusinessDelivering Quantitative Methods Via Distance

Lecture

Assignments

CommunicationsDiscussion Forum

Personal Email

Phone

How To Files

Residency

Teach a new software and difficult material

Designed around case study Make heavy use of off campus

material Intended as a “practice” for team

projects conducted off campus

Final Project

Group projects are assigned as a capstone to the Quant and Econ courses

Problems identified by each group Quant Instructor becomes a coach Groups deliver final project via

distance 45 minute Presentation/45 Minute

Q&A

Conclusions

Understanding the needs of the students is critical in creating a successful course Timing is a critical element that can be easily

under estimated With hard work and perseverance an

excellent environment for learning can be created in distance-based courses

Questions